"A Brief Epic", track by track by Caroline Romano
Photo credit: Justin Nolan Key
This project is called A Brief Epic because it tells a short but lasting story. The relationship all of these songs are about felt like a Greek tragedy played out over the course of a few months instead of a thousand pages. It’s a linear story of almost-love and heartbreak, as told through 80s synths, piano ballads, and hyper pop drums. It’s frantic and eager and pretty and desperate. I’m really proud of this EP, as I feel like it’s some of the most vulnerable songwriting I’ve ever released. Writing these songs was my first time writing about love, or at least what I thought love was. It’s less introspective and more of just talking through something that happened to me. I’m really excited for it to be out.
"Heartbreak You Can Hear"
“Heartbreak You Can Hear” is about the first night. It’s the first glance, the first terrible feeling in your stomach that it’s about to be a terrible, wonderful thing. I truly knew that it was over before it even started, but I chose to jump into this relationship anyway. I wanted the track to feel very 80s-inspired. I also wanted it to feel like the opening track to a project, even though I didn't initially write this song with the intention of putting it on an EP. This song feels exciting but playfully cruel. It’s looking back on something that hasn’t even happened yet.
"Guts"
“Guts” is about word-vomiting way too soon into knowing this person. It’s a true story. I’m a really nervous person around people I like, and I really liked this guy. We met at a party and I definitely used alcohol to try to cope with these feelings I’d never felt before. I felt like I ended up saying too much and freaking out about it. It’s a perpetual habit, that feeling of needing something to make you feel less like yourself to be loved. It’s something I still struggle with sometimes, but I was definitely struggling with it a lot more during that time of my life. It’s anxiety-pop!
"Mississippi Air"
I got the idea for “Mississippi Air” towards the end of this relationship. I had gone back to my hometown in Mississippi for the weekend, and I just had a gut feeling that this relationship was coming to an end. I was driving my brother’s truck back from the pool, and I started thinking about how in that moment it felt like the first time I had taken a breath in months. This song combines reality with a false past. I basically took elements of things and memories I knew I was going to miss about this guy and set them in a fictional high school romance. The subject matter is true, it’s just not historically accurate. I love the sonic elements of “Mississippi Air." It’s simple and sad, but not too sad.
"This House"
“This House” is the turning point in the EP. It’s definitely the climax of the story. I actually wrote “This House” after the relationship was already over. I worked with my friends Spencer Jordan and Andrew Gomez on "This House" and it was probably my favorite song on the project to write. I remember feeling so frustrated in that moment, even months after it had all gone down. It was this new kind of anger to me, a helpless one. It’s about doing all that you can to make someone see you, want you, love you, but nothing works. It’s the little things, like putting on your best clothes, only for him to not even notice. I was quiet and demure and everything I thought he wanted, but that’s not enough to make someone stay. I had built up this make-believe house, and he burned it down. I think one of my favorite elements in this song is the bridge. It builds and builds until it just explodes. Suddenly the curtains are on fire and the make-believe house is nothing but ashes. I was left wishing I was nonchalant and unfeeling and effortless. That’s the feeling I was trying to capture with “This House.”
"St. George"
I think people might be surprised that this is my favorite song off the EP, but it definitely is. It’s actually the first one I wrote out of all of these songs. I went in to work with my producer John Townsend, and I had been hearing the first few lines of the verse in my head over and over again throughout the week leading up to the session. I think the line “you said you’re sorry, I said, ‘don’t say that ever again’” is one of my favorite lines I’ve ever written. “St. George” is basically just the story of the actual breakup. He was wearing a green, long sleeved t-shirt that said St. George on it. He apologized to me for ending things and that somehow made it worse. It’s about wanting it all back and wanting it all gone at the same time. I think you can hear that in the recording, the fact that I was just drowning in those feelings. I love the 80s drums in the chorus of this song so much. I think it’s just a cool juxtaposition of storytelling and a super synth-pop chorus. I hope people like this one as much as I do.
"Then I Woke Up"
One day in November of last year, I woke up and it didn’t hurt quite so much anymore. I felt like my breathing wasn't so shallow and the wounds weren’t so fresh. I was able to feel like myself again. I guess that’s just what happens with love that’s not supposed to be. It really felt like I’d been asleep for a long time, and I was opening my eyes for the first time since January. It’s about seeing things as they really were, and finally being okay with almost being okay again. Things weren’t good, but they weren’t so bad anymore either.
Much of this EP was inspired by Greek mythology and summer and button up shirts. It’s full of references and moments that were so special to me, but that I hope can be special and relatable to anyone who listens to these songs as well. 'A Brief Epic' is my take on 20-something romantics. In great jumps, and even greater falls, this is what I know.
Connect with Caroline: